Oral Answers to Questions — Regional Development – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 3:15 pm on 1 February 2016.
T3. Mr G Kelly asked the Minister for Regional Development for an update on the York Street interchange project. (AQT 3413/11-16)
I thank the Member for his question. My officials are reviewing the inspector's report on the public inquiry into the scheme that was held towards the end of last year. I have not been updated on that at this stage, but I hope to receive that very quickly, hopefully in advance of going into purdah, so that we can make a decision on the way forward. I expect that to be with me in the next few weeks. Subject to a satisfactory outcome, the notice to proceed and the designation order will be published.
I understand that the interchange scheme has already received £1·2 million of EU funding as part of the development and is one of very few schemes to be pre-identified for future funding. The proposed construction programme of November 2017 to December 2020 aligns the funding profile expected for the next call. Therefore, the scheme will be in a pretty good place to have a good strong bid. The project lies on the North Sea/Mediterranean corridor in the TEN-T network. Officials have successfully negotiated for the interchange's inclusion as a pre-identified project in the corridor work plan.